Law visit to London

Posting by Catherine Wade, Year 13 Law student

On Thursday 3 February, a group of A2 Law students visited London. Leaving Solihull Sixth Form at 7.30am we arrived in London just before 11.00am.

To begin the day we went to the Houses of Parliament, and after several security checks we were shown to a private room to have a question and answer session with local Solihull MP Lorely Burt (see picture below).

Many concerns over the rise in university tuitions fees and the cuts and EMA were addressed by the Lib Dem politician. Also, other issues such as income tax were discussed.

Following that we went on a tour around the Houses of Parliament, learning the history of the building.

Breaking for lunch, we had an opportunity to take pictures in front of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and many other landmarks of London.

Later in the afternoon we visited the Supreme Court. We were shown around all three courts in the new building, with a tour guide explaining to us the job of the Supreme Court. We were all the given the chance to sit in on an ongoing case, where we observed how points of law are discussed in the highest court.

Around 4.00pm we left London after an interesting and entertaining trip. We would like to thank Lorely Burt MP, our tour guides, Elaine, Dale and the rest of the staff involved!

Career Academy visit to Grant Thornton

Posting by Ranjit Hayer, Career Academy Co-ordinator and Business teacher

Career Academy students get all sorts of wonderful opportunities and the latest one was a visit to a chartered accountancy firm in Birmingham.

As all the students that are part of the College’s Career Academy are on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Business course, Accountancy is a definite career possibility. As such, getting the chance to actually visit an accountancy firm and see what it is really like is so beneficial.

This particular visit was to the Birmingham office of Grant Thornton. We were greeted by David Munton, who is a member of the Local Advisory Board for the College’s Career Academy. He revealed that he had completed his A levels at The Sixth Form College, Solihull and explained the different routes Grant Thornton offer students into tax and auditing.

Grant Thornton run an apprenticeship scheme and several of those apprentices were present to talk to our students and give them an insight into the scheme and the firm.

Two of our Career Academy students (Dipesh and Rittika) also receive guidance from their Grant Thornton mentors – these mentors also presented their career paths to the students to give them examples of what can be achieved and how you can get there.

It wasn’t all talk - we had a go at some activities while we were there. These were the kind of tasks that students might be asked to complete if successful in their applications to become apprentices. The students also learned of the perks of working for Grant Thornton and the social networking that Grant Thornton offer its employees.

I found the visit really informative and enjoyable and I could tell that the students did too. Indeed, David Munton commented on high calibre of student we have in the Career Academy and also commended their questioning!

This is just one example of the benefit that can be achieved by being a part of the College’s Career Academy. As well as visits like this, we have a large number of visiting speakers providing what are known as “guru lectures”, and the students benefit from mentoring and paid internships.

I’ll keep you all updated on the goings-on of the Career Academy via this blog, so keep checking back.

Aim Higher Associates

Posting by Sam Howe, University of Birmingham Student Associate

There have been five of us working at Solihull SFC since September, all in our second year at the University of Birmingham and studying a range of different subjects from History to German and Psychology. I know I’m not just talking for myself when I say we have all thoroughly enjoyed working with the students at the college.

As part of the Aim Higher initiative, set up by the previous government, Students currently studying at university are trained to go in to local schools and sixth forms with the aim of increasing the numbers of students who apply to university or continue on to further education or training. We try to, first, work with students whose parents may not have gone to university. With a hope that this may ultimately raise aspirations and unlock doors for those who may not otherwise have thought that higher education was even an option for them.

With the cuts coming in, this scheme seems even more crucial than previously. Not only this, but the students we see are concerned with whether they can afford University once the cap on University fees is lifted (the students we are working with will be the first of those affected by the increase). By looking through objectively and putting things into perspective with them, hopefully the cost of education wont be an issue which would be the only reason for them not continuing with their studies.

In our sessions we also research University courses, the UCAS process as well as doing exercises which may boost their confidence and help them to realise their qualities. Awareness of these qualities and aptitudes is what will ultimately help them in their applications to university. The students are also free to suggest areas which they would like to focus on. I help the students I see with revision techniques. Revision strategies I have developed since coming to university and essay structuring which I have learnt in my University tutorials. The students respond well to this which is great to see. It’s fantastic to see them so fascinated with their subjects and them eagerly telling me about their views on the presence of God to the history behind the Crusades.

The Aim Higher scheme has been a good opportunity for us mentors ourselves. I remember the first time coming to Solihull, stepping out of the student bubble in Selly Oak/Edgbaston where our University is based and coming to see a different part of Birmingham. It’s a chance you don’t really get when studying in a different city to the one you grew up in. Getting to know the new city, rather than simply studying in one part and hopefully, however clichéd it may sound, giving something back to the community.

Application Deadline Looming!

Post by Admissions Officer, Jennifer Lumb

Ever wondered what happens after you send off your application form?

My name is Jennifer Lumb and I’m the Admissions Officer at The Sixth Form College, Solihull. I’m here to shed some light on the application process to the College. I have a unique role at the College in that I have at least some involvement with every single student at the College (as well as a few who don’t even make it here!).

I deal with every application form that is sent to the College and it is my job to process those applications and turn them from expressions of interest into firm offers of places and later into enrolments into the College community.

It’s a big task! If you doubt that, let me give you some statistics, as of the end of January 2011, we have had 2,600 applications for places starting in September 2011. That is more applications than we have spaces available and there is still time for more to come in, as the closing date for applications is 31 March.

Panic, you may think. Well, that many applications certainly are a lot to work through! However, not all those applications turn into offers and not all offers turn into enrolments. For some students, we are one of several applications they make to several colleges and there is nothing wrong in doing that. We may not be every students’ first choice, because of the type of course they want to study or the distance they have to travel or even because they elect to get a job rather than continue their education. Some also don’t get the grades they need for advanced level education. Nonetheless, every one of those 2,600 applications has to be processed.

So what do I do? Applications come in usually via our online application form. I send out an acknowledgement that the application has been received within two weeks and when it is a busy time like December and January are that means sending out a lot of letters. I then contact the school that each student applying is attending to get a reference for that pupil. This is where delays can occur, but when I have a completed application form and a reference form I can schedule an interview. Sometimes we set up individual interviews and sometimes we schedule them on one of our interview evenings, when we routinely get through between 240 and 280 interviews in one evening with the use of some 20-odd staff.

Interview – that sounds scary, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t! We don’t sit you in front of a panel of stern-faced men in suits and interrogate you. Indeed, this in not an interview in the sense of a job interview. It is more of a chat to make sure you have picked the correct subjects for you, given your achievement levels and career ambitions. A range of staff take part in interviews, so you might be interviewed by me, by a teacher in one of the subjects you are applying for, by a senior manager or even by the Principal. We all have one thing in common – we don’t bite!!!

Assuming a successful interview and a good reference we make an offer for you to study at the College and then you can expect to hear from us a few more times before you start at College. First, we send you information about a compulsory “Welcome to College Day” event at the end of June. This is a full day in College for all students holding an offer, which gives you an initiation into College life and allows you to enjoy taster sessions for each of your subjects. It’s a fun day and helps you to be sure you have picked the right subjects.

We will also write to you in the summer with information about your enrolment. This is how you formally accept your offer and become part of the College community and it takes place after GCSE results at the end of August or beginning of September. Once enrolled, you are inducted into College life and your studies can start.

As you can see, it is a lengthy process and some students can get a little anxious about it, particularly if there are some delays between sending off an application and scheduling an interview. Hopefully, this blog puts those concerns to rest a little. Indeed, all students should rest assured that as long as they beat the application deadline of 31 March their application will be processed and considered.

If you are thinking of applying, get cracking, as there’s not long left now. I look forward to seeing your application soon.

Preparing for Open Morning

Posting by Marketing Co-ordinator, Bev Bishop

When you’re 15 and 16 years old and making decisions about what to do next, my advice is always the same – visit as many Open days as you can. I don’t just mean come to the events we run, but actually go to as many Open days by as many different institutions as possible.

Why? Well, how can you make an informed decision about what is right for you if you have never visited a place? Would you buy a house without looking at it first? I think not!

I think The Sixth Form College, Solihull is an outstanding college, which has a lot to offer to young people, but are we right for everyone? Of course not. Most of what we offer is A levels, with a selection of BTEC Extended Diplomas also on offer. We also have excellent teachers and superb facilities. It’s my job to showcase those things to prospective students and that is just what I – and my colleagues – will be trying to do tomorrow when we hold our Open Morning.

Yes, Saturday 5 February 2011 is Open Morning at The Sixth Form College, Solihull. We are open from 10.00am until 1.30pm, although the last time people can enter is at 12.30pm. The Principal Paul Ashdown will be giving talks throughout the morning and teachers will be available in every subject area to talk to our guests.

Inevitably, a lot of hard work goes into preparing for an event like this. One of my first tasks is to promote the event and I do this via the College website, Facebook page, newspaper advertising, press releases, posters, flyers in schools and letters to schools, libraries, and Connexions offices. So, hopefully, reading this blog is not the first you have heard of this event!

I also need to make sure we have all the necessary materials for prospective students to pick up on the day. This means talking to teachers to make sure subject leaflets have the correct information on them and ensuring enough are printed. It also means putting together packs of prospectuses and other promotional materials (newsletters, etc) so that everyone who comes to the event can get copies. I have hundreds of carrier bags full of these materials ready and waiting for tomorrow!

We set up a variety of displays, with information on services and student successes and each subject area does their bit too, by preparing the rooms they will use in this way. That is what I and my colleagues are doing today.

We also have to make sure we have the right staffing for an event of this scale. That means both staff coming in on a Saturday, but also existing students too. This mix of staff and students come in to help our visitors find their way around and answer questions. We do provide maps of the campus and I am spending a significant part of today putting up extra signage too, but nonetheless staff and student presence on the day is what makes the event run smoothly.

When we staged our Open Day in November, we had almost 1,500 prospective students coming through the doors that day, all accompanied by at least one parent or guardian, and often with both parents and siblings. It all adds up to a lot of people on campus and we want to ensure everyone enjoys the experience and gets all the information they need to help them make that important “where next” decision.

If you are thinking of where to go next – or perhaps you have already applied here and you want a second look – I do hope we will see you at College tomorrow morning. Remember to please come accompanied by a parent or guardian and we will do all we can to help you make the right decision for you. See you there!